Beauty / Heatless Waves

Continuing on with showing you guys my go-to hairstyles, these heatless waves are my most go-to hairstyle as it’s probably one of the easiest things you can do to make your straight hairs a little more interesting. This hairstyle may seem like a sort of “duh” hairstyle, but I honestly would have never thought of it if it wasn’t for my best friend (hi Kristen!) who used to braid her hair and leave it in over-night or for extended periods of time only to take the braid out and have these amazing waves (her hair is seriously the best). At the time I had quite short hair and was unable to braid it, so I made note for my future long hairs that this would be how I would get excellent waves with the littlest amount of effort (at the time I had been using a hair straightener to create waves), and now if I’m not ragging my hair at night, it’s in a braid. So here we go! Quick, easy, simple, but effective.FIRST STEP:  Braid your hair…yes, that’s it. I like to do a side braid, but only because I have a real, real hard time doing a braid down the back of my head…but if you’re a magical human who can braid your hair from any angle, well go to town my dear friend. You are far more talented than I.Make use of said braid by doing stupid things with it.SECOND STEP: As with my previous tutorial, I sleep with my braid in at night so that when I wake up my hair is very nearly ready to go – probably the simplest of all steps, unless you have a hard time sleeping at night, but even so, that makes no difference to your beautiful hairs.THIRD STEP: In the morning I will sometimes hairspray the braid to ensure my waves stay wavy throughout the day, and like I do with my rags, I will use my blow dryer on my hair briefly, which also helps maintain your wavy babies – make sure to let your hair cool after you use the blow dryer.FOURTH STEP: Once I’ve taken my braid out and given my hair a wee brush, I often backcomb my hair so I have a bit more volume – my hair is quite thick and thus heavy, and so it can sort of just floop on my head like a giant shapeless mop.Ta-da! Easy peasy! I will note my waves could have been a bit better – if you don’t wash your hair for a few days and braid your hair every night, your waves, obviously, will be even more prominent.

Let me know if you guys are enjoying these tutorials. I’m thinking of including my daily makeup routine and other makeup/hair fun. Do you prefer written/picture tutorials like this, or are you more likely to watch a youtube video?

Give me your eyes, I need sunshine

Processed with VSCOcam with n3 presetFor a little while I felt like I had lost myself with taking my outfit photos, specifically when it came to taking outdoor shots. It started to become an okay let’s just get this done situation (probably because it’s been so cold), and I really started to feel like the quality of my images had suffered, and ultimately, didn’t feel like me. For one reason or another – and I think I have said this before – the actual feeling and artistry of the images I share is just as important to me as showcasing the outfit, maybe even more so. I mean, I’m not saying I’m making waves in the blogging world or even producing the best possible photographs (I’m still a newbie) or doing something that different or new, but it’s incredibly important to me to stay true to who I am. I’ll probably never be one of those bloggers that enjoys taking my outfit photos in front of a solid backdrop, which is strange, because some of my favorite bloggers do just that and I love it. I think it all comes down to my personality type, I have a hard time letting anything just be simple. Everything I do, in all aspects of my life, needs to feel important, and full of passion and creativity, and I am almost never satisfied (and clearly I am incredibly dramatic. get over yourself Alex!). I guess it goes without saying (but I will say it) that my brain (and my life, to be honest) has been in a tumultuous state of sorts lately. But taking these photographs and being able to share them with you feels incredibly therapeutic because these images feel the most like me out of any photographs I have taken in a long while. They remind me that even if my world feels like it’s falling apart, I can create something beautiful all by myself that makes me feel good, and it’s as simple as that.

Processed with VSCOcam with n3 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with n3 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with n3 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with n3 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with n3 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with n3 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with n3 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with g3 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with n3 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with n3 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with n3 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with g3 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with n3 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with n3 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with g3 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with n3 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with g3 presetBlouse: vintage via Public Butter
Skirt: vintage via Common Sort
Tights: old pair of ballet tights
Boots: Samantha Pleet x Wolverine

Beauty / Rag Roll Curls

Processed with VSCOcam with n3 presetThe most frequent comments and questions I receive are about my hair, so I thought it was due time I teach you guys a few of my go-to hairstyles. Now, when I first started blogging I did a tutorial on rag rolls, but I thought I should probably update it since my hair is much longer and I’ve learned a few new techniques since then to ensure some pretty stellar curls.
Processed with VSCOcam with n3 presetThis is my hair in it’s sort-of natural state. I’ve got really straight hair – those slight waves are likely from being in a braid – so I’m hoping I can show you that even if you have pin straight hair, you can also have voluminous curls with little effort.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

  • your beautiful hairs
  • an old t-shirt, towel, whatever.
  • scissors
  • tape measure, if you want to be precise

FIRST STEP: Weeee! Time to make our rags! My rags are from awhile ago (maybe gross…I don’t care), but I originally cut up an old sweater into about 20 rags, from what I can remember. I only use about 8 in my hair now, but it really depends on how you want your curls to turn out – I prefer mine a bit thicker, so I use less. I cut my rags to about 1″ in width and 7″ in length – you don’t have to use those measurements, but they have always served me well.

Processed with VSCOcam with n3 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with n3 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with n3 presetSECOND STEP:  Rollin’ rollin’ rollin’. I like to roll my hair dry, but when I first started out I liked having it a bit damp because it is a little tricky getting the hang of rolling that hair up when it’s not very malleable (hair sometimes has a mind of it’s own). Take your desired amount of hair to be rolled – whether that be a clump, chunk, bundle or strands does not matter, this is your life – and wrap the end of your bundle around the rag and start rolling upward. Once you reach the top (also subjective), tie your rag into a single knot.

Processed with VSCOcam with n3 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with n3 presetEt voila! Your first rag was a success, now onto the rest of that head!Processed with VSCOcam with n3 presetTHIRD STEP: I often like to give my rag bundles a little spritz with hairspray. I have found this helps immensely since my hair often likes to stay curly for a few hours and then slowly go back to it’s straight, boring life. Take that hair! I’m the boss!Processed with VSCOcam with n3 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with n3 presetEventually, you will look darling like this. I used to call her spider head because I had so many rags in that resembled a plethora of spiders, but now I call her perogie/dumpling head, for what I feel is obvious reasons, but maybe I’m insane.Processed with VSCOcam with n3 presetFOURTH STEP: I usually do my rags in the evening so I can sleep on them and wake up with excellent hair in no time at all. I find giving your hair many hours in the rags is important…especially if you have thick hair. You could also do your rags in the morning if you are going out at night and are planning on spending the day inside…unless you want to walk around in public with these…if so, you are brave and you are my new best friend. If you are concerned about your rolls coming loose while you sleep, you can also tie a head scarf around your head so as to not upset the rolls. I’m too lazy for that shit so I just sleep as is. Don’t worry, it’s not really uncomfortable.Processed with VSCOcam with n3 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with n3 presetFIFTH STEP: In the morning I often use my blow dryer on the little bundles even though they are not wet because the heat will help to keep the curls intact. Make sure if you do use the blow dryer to let the curls cool down before taking them out. Now, un-tie your knots and slowly pull the bottom piece of the rag downward so you don’t upset the curls. Once I’ve taken out all the rags I give my curls another spray with my trusty hairspray just to be sure they don’t get out of line, then I just give the top, uncurled part of my hair a little brush (since I slept on it) and I’m good to go. You could also tease a bit of the hair at the top of your head to get that ultra 60s look, which sometimes I do.Processed with VSCOcam with n3 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with n3 presetCongratulations on a job well done! Now go take on the day looking and feeling fabulous as ever.

Following Nature

031_8I met Heather Wells, designer of these exquisite headpieces and the creator behind Heart of Gold Designs, through instagram last summer. Her headpieces are made from vintage and precious materials crafted into these incredibly romantic and ethereal pieces that would make any gal (or guy) feel like an elegant, otherworldly creature. I knew I would want to shoot some of her pieces at some point and luck would have it that Meaghan and I had envisioned a shoot like this almost one year ago (except with a lot more snow…snow, she’s never there when you need her), so Heather’s pieces felt like the perfect fit once we finally brought this shoot to fruition. I’m pretty happy with how the images turned out. Meaghan and I took turns behind and in front of my pentax on this somewhat mild winter day.

Photography: Alex Spence and Meaghan Kelly
Models: Alex Spence and Meaghan Kelly
Headpieces: Heart of Gold Designs
Nightgowns and sweaters: personal wardrobe, except for the blue nightgown via Larkspur
Patterned blanket: Cambie Design
Footwear: Samantha Pleet x Wolverine and personal wardrobe

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The Life of a Dress

DSC_2316I have such a hard time feeling okay about buying clothes that are not vintage or thrifted (this excludes independent designers). I’m not sure why – maybe they just don’t feel special…maybe I don’t like the idea of fast fashion – whatever it is, I actually feel like I have something against new clothes. Recently Forever 21 opened a location really close to my house and I thought, “okay, cool, I can take a peek, maybe they’ll have some cute things.” But the second I tried them on, I didn’t want any of them. It just didn’t feel like me. But say I were to find that same item in a thrift store and I liked it, I would probably buy it. Maybe hunting for clothes is part of my love for vintage and thrifting.

So it’s odd for me to say, but the only thing that is vintage in this entire look is my hat. This dress may look vintage – what with it’s 50s shape and fun novelty print – but it is indeed new. And it had me wondering…will I love this dress? Why shouldn’t I love this dress? I mean, when I saw it online, I fell for it almost immediately. But as soon as I knew a ton of others could purchase it, or that it doesn’t have an interesting past, it’s like my brain tried to sabotage my initial like for this dress, as if it was less special because it hadn’t been worn by another. But I’m glad I do own it. I am very fond of this dress. I no longer have any dresses with this silhouette in my closet – I sold all my 50s dresses with a similar silhouette long ago because I’m not really a 50s kind of girl (usually). But the length of this dress feels very 60s and it can act as a pinafore, which we all know I love. It may not have a history, but I’m the first home along it’s journey. I hope one day it will make some others girls happy. After all, all those vintage clothes I love so much now started out as new.

Hold do you feel about buying new vs old? Do you even care? I’d love to hear.

DSC_2289DSC_2305DSC_2326DSC_2287DSC_2294DSC_2324DSC_2307DSC_2277DSC_2332DSC_2306DSC_2327DSC_2284DSC_2317Dress c/o Larmoni
Blouse: H&M (old)
Socks: UO
Hat: vintage via Common Sort
Boots: Samantha Pleet x Wolverine